After more than six months of captivity, the three teachers abducted off Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay were rescued on Wednesday morning from the clutches of  their Abu Sayyaf captors following two separate operations in the troubled island province of Basilan.

Senior Superintendent Abubakar Tulawi, provincial commander of the Basilan Police, said that teachers Jocelyn Enriquez and Noemi Mandi were released by their abductors at around 11:30 a.m. in Barangay Bangkuang, in Tipo-Tipo town.

Tulawi said Jocelyn Inion was rescued in Barangay Kabangalan in the nearby town of Tipo-Tipo.

The official said the release of the three teachers of Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School was an offshoot of the operation by joint intelligence agents of the Western Mindanao Police and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“We have no specific details but the word used in the report was rescued,” Tulawi told Manila Bulletin/Tempo in a phone interview when asked if the release was a result of operation or ransom was paid for their freedom.

Chief Superintendent Paisal Umpa, ARMM Regional Police director, also confirmed the release of the three teachers but would not reveal further details.

Superintendent Danilo Bacas, Operations chief of the ARMM, pointed to the group of ASG sub-leader Nurhasan Jamiri as the one holding the three teachers captive during the rescue.

“This was a result of simultaneous rescue operations, the kidnappers were surprised during the operation and in the process, the three teachers were abandoned,” said Bacas.

But Bacas said that based on the report from the field, there were no firefight during the rescue operation.

Police sources said that the negotiations done by the Crisis Management Committee composed of local officials in Basilan also pressured the abductors into releasing the three teachers.

The three were immediately taken to a military camp in Zamboanga City for medical checkup and debriefing.

This was also confirmed by Bacas, saying the three are in good condition but currently being subjected to medical checkup as of press time on Wednesday.

Suspected sea pirates abducted the three teachers on March 13 off Barangay Bangkaw-Bangkaw, Naga town in Zamboanga Sibugay in retaliation for the death of their relatives who died in a shootout with the military.